The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-25
AMONG THE MAGAZINES.
A Varied and Attractive Literary Feast
Spread by the April Periodicals.

The first installment of the 'Unpublished
Letters of Thackerayr is the special feature of
Scribner for April. These letters were written
to Mr. and Mrs. Brookfeld, of London, who
were among Thackeray's most intimate friends.
and are charming both for the childlike ingenu-
business with which the writer takes his CORE
spondents into his confidence and for the charac-
teristc humor which permeates them. He Cos
sips and chats about the most trivial things,
tells what he had for dinner. what he would
have preferred instead, grumbles goodnaturedly
over the WEAKNESS involved in paying proper at
tention to ones kinfolk, and talks freely about
his debts. His plan for tightening sentimental
cares by engaging in hard work is not new, but
it comes to him as new discovery.
As I was going toward London, he says, the post
man stopped in the street and asked me if would
take my letters, which he handed to me--one was
opera box which sent off to Mrs. M. for tomorrow;
and one was letter from attorney demanding in
stanty SIP for that abomnable Irish railway; and
in presence of this real calamity all the sentimental
ones vanished straight began to think how / must
raise the money-how I must go to work. nor be
shy- shally1ng any longer: and with this real care
staring me in the face began to forget imaginary
grievances and to think about going to work imme-
screw and save in order to pay off the money. And
this is the way, NJ am, that the grim duties of the
world push the soft feelings asde we've time to be
listening teir little meek petitions and tender home
pratle in presence of the imperative Duty who says.
Come. come, more of this here-get to work,
behind which Necessity marches cracking his whip
This metaphor has not been worked completely as
it might be- but it means that resolved to go to
work directly.
A light is thrown upon his religious beliefs
when he says
The Eight upon all the saints in heaven is just much
and more Gods work as the sun which shall shine
tomorrow upon this infntesimal speck of creation,
and under which shall read please God aetter from
my kindest lady and friend. About my future state
don't know leave it in the disposal of the awful
Father-but for to-day thank God that can love
you. and that you yonder, and others besides, are
thinking of me with tender regard. Halelujah may
be greater in degree than this but not in kind and
countless ages of stars may be blazing infinitely but
you and have right to rejoice and believe in our
little part, and to trust in to-day as in tomorrow
Edith M. Thomas, whose work for SO long a
time was to be found in the pages of the At
lantic Monthly is contributor to this issue of
Scribner. Miss Thomas is recognized every
where as one of the most promising of the
younger poets, but she has not yet struck the
chord whose vibrations meet responsive thrill
in the hearts Of her hearers. Her verse is pure,
and clear and cold imaginative and instinct
with intellectual vigor but without fire.
The fourth and concluding chapter of x-Min-
lister Wash burnes "reminiscences OF the siege of
Paris appears in this issue. Among other in
teresting contributions one by Prof. Adams
Hill on English in Our Colleges is timely. and
will attract attention. A portrait Of Thackeray
forms the frontispiece.
The name of Edmund Kirke, familiar to the
reading public of twenty or more years ago. is
appended to leading articles in two of the April
magazines. In Harper's Monthly he contributes
a paper descriptive Of Chattanooga or. as he
terms it, the Southern gateway Of the Allie
ghenies. This article is accompanied with most
artistic illustrations The untraveled reader is
served with An illustrated description of the
Coincide Francois that IS either satisfaction or
| a tantilization according as his desire for per-
sonal acQualnt ance with the attractions or Paris
is gratfed or merely whetted by looking through
the eyes of others. Several iuelegances of
language in short story by Richard Malcolm
Johnston suggest that the editor mapped, or was
filled with too serene q confidence in this con-
tributor when his manuscript was sent to the
printer unread. Mr.. Johnston remarks of one
of his characters that none who knew the
Pritchetts dreamed that the wife, who was many
years younger than her husband, would decease
before him." He also tells us OF the wisdom his
hero had gotten from contact with the world
and from discussions in which few men were
| more fond to indulge" To be forced to encounter
Southern negro and Cracker" dialect is Suf
icient trial to most readers, without being COM
PEELED to endure also, the personal eccentricties
OF speech of the one who transcribes it. The
general interest IN Russian affairs Is met Dy
Katherine O'Meara in her story of 'Narka, and
| a very readable description of trip through the
Caucasus. by Ralph Meeker. Lee Merriwether's
| account of how workingmen live in Europe will
interest more Americans than those who classify
themselves as workingmen. and should cause all
to congratulate themselves that their own lot
has been cast on this side Of the water.
The April Atlantic opens with poem by John
G. Whittier. which is characteristic of the writer
| and his Quaker creed in its expressions of SYM
pathy with the ignorant and oppressed. The poem
is based on the fact that Rain in the Face, one
| of the fercest chiefs OF the Indians who cut
| up Clusters command is now anxious to become
a student at Hampton. There nine stanzas
| of which the first four are here reproduced:
The years are but half a score
And the war-whoop sounds no moro
With the blast Of bugles where
Straight into slaughter-pen,
With his doomed three hundred men,
Rode the chief with the yellow hair,
o Hampton. down BY the sea!
What voice is beseechng thee
For the scholars lowliest placea
Can this be the voice of him
Who fought on the Big Horns rim!
Can this be RAIN the Face!
| His war paint is washed away,
His hands have forgotten to slay;
l He seeks him self and his